Mr Trudeau: Please speak to President Macron, without delay

CUSJ President Margaret Rao wrote once again today to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the Hassan Diab case. The text of this letter is pasted below.

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to you, once again, on behalf of Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice (CUSJ), a faith-based organization that promotes ‘the inherent worth and dignity of every person’ and speaks out against ‘human rights abuses whether of individuals or peoples’.

As you are well aware, Dr. Hassan Diab, a Canadian citizen, was extradited to France on highly suspect evidence three years ago. He has been languishing in a Paris prison since December 2014 and for the eighth time, the French justice system has failed him. Dr. Diab’s longsuffering wife, Dr. Rania Tfaily, was recently interviewed on CBC radio, along with Canadian lawyer Donald Bayne, urging you to ‘take moral responsibility’ to bring Rania’s husband and the father of their two young children home, once and for all.

Donald Bayne pointed out that four investigative judges have deemed Dr. Diab innocent with ‘corroborated and consistent evidence’ as to Dr. Diab’s whereabouts on October 3rd, 1980, the date of the bombing of the synagogue in Paris. Without going into further detail, Dr. Diab’s lawyer has stated in no uncertain terms, that this case has ceased to be ‘legal and logical’, adding that a ‘diplomatic and political’ solution at the highest level is the only viable option.

We therefore urge you to speak to your counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, without delay, and insist that justice be done and that an innocent man be brought home to Canada. This is your opportunity to right the wrongs of the Canadian and French justice systems.